ITV

Tag: Kolkata

  • Trai drafts standardised interconnect regulations

    Trai drafts standardised interconnect regulations

    NEW DELHI: In a bid to streamline the cable industry, sector regulator today released the proposed standard forms of interconnect agreements for CAS areas between broadcasters and multi system operators and between MSOs and local cable operators (LCOs).

    The reason for this being suggestions from the industry stake holders to the government that a standard form of interconnect agreements be formulated.

    On 10 March, 2006 the Delhi High Court had directed the government implement CAS in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai within a month’s time.

    Subsequent to this order, a series of meetings were taken by the information and broadcasting ministry.

    Taking note of suggestions emanating from the meetings, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has decided to finalise a standard format for interconnection agreements for CAS in consultation with the industry.

    Accordingly, a draft of the standard forms has been placed on the website of Trai today. The draft agreements contain a number of sections and provisions.

    One of them relate to revenue sharing. The actual revenue share percentages have been left blank in the draft and are proposed to be filled up after getting comments of the stakeholders.

    Trai has also asked for feedback on the following:

    •Should there be a uniform revenue share percentage between all broadcasters and MSOs and MSOs and LCOs. If yes, what should be the revenue share percentages? What is the methodology, data and principles on which these are based?

    •Should the revenue share percentages be different for different broadcasters? If so, should the rates for different broadcasters prevailing in Chennai be adopted in other CAS notified areas?

    •Is there any other alternative method of arriving at the revenue share?

    A draft regulation has also put on the website for comments containing the provisions for the standard agreements as well as a clause for prohibiting minimum subscriber guarantee. The deadline for sending comments is 27 June.

  • Mid-Day Radio Go 92.5 relaunches as Radio One 92.5

    Mid-Day Radio Go 92.5 relaunches as Radio One 92.5

    MUMBAI: Radio Mid-Day Go 92.5 FM has undergone a change in its brand identity as well as positioning of the FM channel. From a niche player, Go 92.5 FM is set to create a mark as a mass player. Towards that end the station has undergone a name change to Radio One.

    Radio One is a Mid-Day Multimedia and BBC Worldwide venture.

    Earlier this year, BBC Worldwide Holdings B.V. entered into a deal with Mid-Day Multimedia Ltd to invest Rs 318.5 million for a 20 per cent stake in Radio Mid Day West (India) Pvt Ltd.The venture has bagged licenses to operate FM stations in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pune. While the Mumbai station is operational, other metros like Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi will go on air in the next few months.

    Interestingly, one of the radio brands from the BBC Worldwide stable is called BBC Radio 1. BBC Radio Service also runs BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Five Live in the UK. 

    BBC Radio 1 specialises in popular music and targets the 16-24 age bracket. It was launched in September 1967.

    “With Radio Mid-Day becoming a national player in seven major metros around the country, it was only natural that we would evolve what we were doing in Mumbai into what is going to be a robust national play,” says Radio Midday CEO Rajesh Tahil.

    “As a single city player, being niche made sense, but a national presence gives us the opportunity to go back to the drawing board and look at opportunities to shed our niche image and broaden our markets, both in terms of audience and revenue,” Tahil adds.

    Commenting on the opportunities that the Phase II licensing allows for the growth of private FM in India Tahil adds, “For both Mid-Day Multimedia and the BBC, being a significant national radio player is of great strategic significance.”

    Radio Mid-Day and operating head of the Mumbai station Radio One Shariq Patel said, “We have tested the new format and have seen a healthy improvement in numbers from our own internal tracking. With FM becoming a truly mass medium, we’re on our way to building a mass brand.”

    The company has also brought about a change in its programming strategy. According to a statement issued today, the change in programming for the Mumbai station will be the first big change in the play-out of the national brand through which Radio Mid-Day aims to become the number one station in the cities it transmits.

    “The new radio station will still have the flavour of Go and the essence of what the brand stood for, which is fun, energy and exuberance reflecting the city of Mumbai. This will all remain though the language and the context changes a little,” says Radio Mid-Day VP programming and brand Vishnu Athreya. “For us, music and Bollywood are an integral part of the programming mix. Hindi music itself has come a long way and the attitude that Abhishek Bachchan reflects in a new Bollywood film or the fact that Himesh Reshammiya queues up playlists at a club shows us the new age of a changing audience.”

    The company is also optimistic about the new format giving a boost to revenues. “As the market share (audience) of the radio station increases, we are certain the share of revenue will increase as well. Already we have seen interests from a wider list of advertisers that may not have considered us a necessity earlier,” Radio Mid-Day VP advertising sales Avinash Pillai, who has recently joined, concludes.

  • Max announces ‘Sabse Bada Deewana’ contest

    Max announces ‘Sabse Bada Deewana’ contest

    MUMBAI: Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in September, the telecast rights holder Max is attempting to create a buzz in the market. Driving the initiative is a search for the ‘Sabse Bada Deewana’ to be launched across the country.

    Through the hunt, Max will choose the biggest “deewana” from across the country through auditions on-ground across six cities- Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, Surat, Kolkata and Mumbai. Participants could either register by sending a sms “Deewana” to 2525 or turn up for an audition at the venue, said an official release.

    Speaking on the onset of Sabse Bada Deewana, Max EVP & business head Albert Almeida says, “This campaign will capture the true passion and fervor of the viewer and showcase what fuels his or her Deewanapan. The idea is to identify these deewanas, capture their deewanapan and present them to other passionate viewers of the channel.”

    According to Almeida, the on ground activity will be supported by an extensive off air and on air marketing campaign.

    Max will take the biggest deewana and movie fanatic of all times – Sajid Khan across these cities and hunt down the Sabse Bada Deewana of the nation. After rolling out auditions in six cities, the campaign moves further as the six deewanas chosen from the city will then be eliminated by viewer votes and the Sabse Bada Deewana would be chosen from amongst them, adds the release.

  • Doordarshan launches SMS based news service

    Doordarshan launches SMS based news service

    MUMBAI: Doordarshan has launched an SMS based news service, by which mobile phone users can get the top four news headlines and cricket score updates on match days of matches telecast live on Doordarshan.

    As far as All India Radio network is concerned, News on Phone Service (IVR) is already functional at Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna and Ahmedabad. This service is expected to be commissioned at Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore shortly.

    Besides, this service is also expected to be launched at Raipur, Jaipur, Shimla, Lucknow, Guwahati, Imphal and Kolkata during the 10th Plan period. SMS based news service is expected to be commissioned in Delhi during the 10th Plan period.

    The information was given by minister of information and broadcasting and Parliamentary affairs, P R Dasmunsi in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

  • Star channels back on cable networks in Kolkata

    Star channels back on cable networks in Kolkata

    MUMBAI: The Star group of channels are back on the cable networks in Kolkata. After Manthan Cable Network, it was the turn of Indian Cable Net (which was bought out by Siticable) to reach an agreement today with Star.

    “Our channels are being carried by Indian Cable Net from today. They have agreed to carry our second bouquet which includes Star One. We have also resolved issues with Mathan and they have cleared our outstandings,” says a Star spokesperson.

    The Star channels were blacked out last month by several cable networks in Kolkata who were protesting against a seven per cent rate hike. Another issue in contention was the imposition of Star’s second bouquet. Cablecom and Purvalaya Communications, however, were carrying the Star channels.

    Star had switched off signals on 15 March to Manthan after claiming outstandings of over Rs 20 million. Following this the last mile operators blacked out carriage of the Star channels, led by the Forum of Cable Operators and Cable Operators Sanjukta, two association bodies of the last mile operators in the city.

  • Radio Mirchi goes on air in Bangalore

    Radio Mirchi goes on air in Bangalore

    MUMBAI/ BANGALORE: Following a trial period of one week, Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) radio brand — Radio Mirchi formally went on-air in Bangalore today. Radio Mirchi 95 FM is the second 24 hour FM radio station to go on-air in Bangalore.

    The first FM radio station in the city is Music Broadcast Pvt LTD Radio City. Radio Mirchi is the first brand to go on air in the phase II FM, within three months after completion of the Phase II bidding.

    The information & broadcasting had earlier this year awarded 280 licences to 36 private operators for running FM radio stations in 91 cities.

    Speaking on the potential of FM radio to revolutionise media consumption, ENIL CEO and MD AP Parigi said “Radio’s strength is its immense flexibility, adaptability and suitability for a modern and active life. It is the best companion. Thus our aim is to deliver programmes that are relevant to the people of Bangalore. This is a station for the people of Bangalore – playing their music and speaking their language.”

    He further added that “We expect the Mirchi style of programming of Radio Mirchi to revitalise the position of radio in Bangalore, just the way we have been able to win the loyalty of listeners in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities.”

    The station is positioned as a sunshine channel, with a baseline which reads “It’s Hot” With round the clock programming, Radio Mirchi will bring in contemporary music, city happenings, Bollywood gossip, special interviews, exclusive film promotional tie-ups and lots more. 24 hours hit Hindi music is what Radio Mirchi promises to deliver to its listeners, informs an official release.

    Radio Mirchi 93.3 FM will broadcast a diverse mix of shows including Hello Bangalore, a charged up breakfast show to say hello! to a bright new day; Bombat Bhama, a gossip based show for the housewives; Bitti Ticket, for the latest gossip from the films, an afternoon show for the students; Chill Maadi, a chilled out evening drive time gaming show; Mirchi Talkies for retro music and Dr. Love, to handle teenager love problems.

    Moreover, the station uses the ‘best of class’ transmission and studio equipment to broadcast crystal clear stereophonic sound to its listeners.

    ENIL had launched its first radio station in the city of Indore in October 2001. At present Radio Mirchi is operational in 10 cities which includes Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad and Pune.

  • Radio Mirchi 95 FM launches in Hyderabad

    Radio Mirchi 95 FM launches in Hyderabad

    MUMBAI: Entertainment Network (India) Limited has launched its Radio Mirchi 95 FM radio station in Hyderabad. The station went on-air at 6 am today, with the voice of Southern superstar Chiranjeevi being the first voice on the station.

    Radio Mirchi 95 FM Hyderabad is the 10th station of ENIL to start operations. Radio Mirchi 105 FM Jaipur and Radio Mirchi 93.3 FM Bangalore went on air on 17 April, making them the first private FM radio stations to go on-air under the Phase II of radio privatization.

    In the Phase II bidding process, over 250 frequencies across 90 cities were successfully auctioned in a process that lasted 5 weeks in January and February 2006. ENIL was successful in winning 25 licenses in addition to the 7 stations it already operates.

    Speaking on the occasion, ENIL MD & CEO A P Parigi said that with these back to back launches, ENIL had managed to demonstrate its project management capabilities. He added that in all three stations detailed market research was carried out to provide inputs to programming – so that the station reflected the tastes and aspirations of each city.

    Under the Phase II rules, radio stations are permitted to commence broadcasting by way of interim transmission facilities in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

  • Cable operators black out Star chnls in Kolkata

    Cable operators black out Star chnls in Kolkata

    MUMBAI: A majority of cable networks in Kolkata have blacked out the Star group of channels, protesting against a seven per cent rate hike. Another contention is the forcing of the second bouquet which includes channels like Star One.

    The Star channels including Star Plus are not available to most viewers in the city since Saturday midnight. The decision was taken by the last mile operators (LMOs) who also blamed Tata Sky, in which Star is a 20 per cent joint venture partner, for approaching housing societies with the offer of a central dish antenna through which individual installations could be provided for direct-to-home (DTH) service.

    Indian Cable Net (which was bought out by Siticable) and Manthan Cable Network, the two big multi-system operators (MSOs) in the city, are not having the Star channels on their cable systems. “We were asked by the last mile operators not to carry the Star channels,” says an executive in Indian Cable Net.

    Earlier, Star had switched off signals to Manthan after claiming outstandings of over Rs 20 million. “Manthan owed us money and we switched off signals on 15 March after giving a month’s notice. There is no reason for the other cable operators blacking us out as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has allowed a seven per cent hike,” says a Star India spokesperson.

    Manthan director Gurmeet Singh admits Star was off the network from 15 March, but says the case regarding dues is pending in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

    The protest against carriage of the Star channels was led by the Forum of Cable Operators and Cable Operators Sanjukta, two association bodies of the last mile operators in the city. “Star was asking for a hike, which we couldn’t have passed on to the consumers. Besides, Tata Sky, where Star is a partner, is wanting to grab subscribers by offering housing societies free cabling from a single central antenna,” says Cable Operators Sanjukta spokesperson Papi Banerjee.

    Star channels are, however, available on Cablecom and Purvalaya Communications. “Star is also supporting some operators by issuing decoder boxes,” says a last mile operator in Kolkata.

  • IBF board to discuss CAS on 5 April

    IBF board to discuss CAS on 5 April

    NEW DELHI: Even as Siti Cable today made a presentation on conditional access system to stakeholders during a government-sponsored meeting, the broadcasters said the issue of rollout would be discussed at a board meeting before they finalise their stand.

    The Siti Cable presentation basically dwelt on various aspects of CAS, but hinged on the fact that between 180-200 days would be needed as preparation time for final rollout of addressability in Indian cable homes in the metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

    Siti Cable is also in favour of standardization of all contractual agreements that are entered between a broadcaster and MSO; an MSO and a cable operator and a local operator and a consumer.

    Though the six-hour long meeting took up various viewpoints and modalities that could be followed before the government notifies a date for rollout of CAS, representatives from most major pay broadcasters did not attend today’s meeting.

    Those who could be said to be representing the broadcasting community included a senior official from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), an apex body of all broadcasters active in India, and Zee Telefilms’ Jawahar Goel.

    Broadcasters haven’t yet given a formal submission to the government on CAS, which is expected to come through on 7 April when the government will hold another round of meeting with industry stakeholders.

    Meanwhile, Indiantelevision.com learns that the board of IBF will discuss addressability in a meeting on Wednesday (5 April).

    Some of the issues relating to CAS implementation, which have been informally raised by broadcasters with the government, include piracy, quality of service and parameters to decide standardized agreements amongst industry stakeholders.

    It is also learnt that the broadcasters are averse to supplying maximum retail price for a TV channel for the end consumer.

    The pay broadcasters, yet to articulate their final stand on this issue, feel a mechanism could be evolved whereby wholesale price of individual channels and bouquets could be supplied to MSOs who then could decide what a channel should cost to the consumer after including their margins for providing a service.

    After today’s meeting, an independent cable operator of Delhi, Dr. AK Rastogi, said, “We have been discussing CAS for few days now. But to me, it seems, final implementation, as directed by the Delhi High Court, will take more time than what had been envisaged.”

  • CAS: Gloves off as IBF, cable frat hurl charges

    CAS: Gloves off as IBF, cable frat hurl charges

    NEW DELHI: The game of ping-pong being played in the name of Conditional Access System (CAS) took another turn today with the broadcasters and cable fraternity hitting out against each other as the government reserved its verdict on the issue of rollout of addressability.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation today made it clear in a submission to the information and broadcasting ministry that all addressable systems should be mandated like CAS and providing a la carte pricing of channels would not be in the interest of consumers. Indiantelevision.com had reported on Wednesday that this was the stand the IBF would be taking on the CAS imbroglio.

    While the government is yet to firm up its stand from the wide-ranging industry feedback, which, if taken into account, would push CAS rollout to fourth quarter of 2006, the Hinduja-owned IndusInd Media Communication Ltd has said that the government should honour the court verdict in the light of CAS being operational in Chennai since 2003 without any objections being raised by stakeholders.

    The Delhi High Court on 10 March had directed the government to implement CAS in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi within one month’s time, which is about to get over technically this month. But it needs to be seen when the government received a certified copy of the court order.

    Interestingly, at a meeting that the government had with industry stakeholders today on CAS, the issue of registering of CAS operators with the government and the whole process of doing it, is likely to add to the delay.

    A new sequencing of CAS rollout submitted by Siti Cable at the meeting, according to government sources, states the date of implementation should 14 November 2006 with the time in between used for getting ready for a CAS-enabled regime.

    The IBF’s submission has not only created more confusion, but has enraged a certain section of the cable industry too.

    At one place in its letter to the I&B ministry, the IBF has said that the government should stop the cable industry from charging huge amount of carriage fees, which raised the hackles of cable ops present during today’s meeting.

    In a separate submission to the ministry, the Delhi-based National Cable & Telecommunications Association has, in turn, requested the government to direct the pay broadcasters not to play tough.

    “If the pay channels demand more time for the implementation of conditional access system in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, then it is imperative that they must be directed to immediately stop collecting monthly subscription from the cable service providers till CAS comes into force,” NCTA has said.

    Though the NCTA letter exhorts the government to “exercise its powers” and direct the pay channels to declare rates of their individual channels and fix an upper limit for pricing of individual; channels and bouquets, the I&B ministry representatives at the meeting today did not utter any word on these issues.